A fun movie tomorrow night

This evening MrsDoF and I watched “Pete’s Meteor,” starring Mike Meyers (Wayne’s World, and Shrek). Something tells me he was trying to “show his range” because the funnyman was playing a former addict whose life was catching up to him. The movie takes one down turn after another (in the context of a goofy but tragic Irish plot). Despite an attempt at a happy ending, it’s not a particularly happy (or good) movie. But tomorrow we can fix all that…

I once knew a fellow who was so devoted to Star Trek that he fashioned his own movie-prop quality Klingon uniforms and makeup. He knew every line from every episode and movie, and could dispense amazing high-resolution trivia. Occasionally, he also held a job for months at a time.

Compared to him, I’m a complete failure as a Star Trek fan, but I did enjoy the movie; “Wrath of Kahn” where Ricardo Montalban (sp?) wreaks terrible vengance on Captain Kirk. And it’s at the Normal Theater this weekend. Cheesy fun!

“Vengance is a dish best served cold. And Kirk,it is very cold… in space!”
“KAAAAHHHHNN!”

The other movie this weekend was “Invasion of the Body Snatchers,” which I have been meaning to rent. But my favorite old ‘50’s SF movie would have to be “The Day The Earth Stood Still.” I love this scene:

“The aliens have achieved much longer lifespan through their superior medical science.” (offers pack to other doctor) “Cigarette?”
“Thank you, don’t mind if I do.”

Saw that one at the Historic Normal Theater a few years ago. Lots of audience participation there – movies are more like a party.

UPDATE: Movie was a lot of fun, lots of hootin’ & Hollerin’ from the audience and we sat with a friend from work. I got the bit of dialogue quoted above wrong – oh well.

The Normal Theater hands out movie reviews when you buy your ticket, which is really keen. You can read up on the history and making of the movie while getting your popcorn. It seems that Wrath of Kahn was made for only $10m, due in large part to Roddenberry handing production chores over to TV producer Glen Larson. The result was a movie regarded by fans as the best Trek movie, even though the special effects are, well, not-so-special.

The first Trek movie, Star Trek, The Motion Picture is regarded by fans as the worst one – and it cost $40m in 1979 to make. The moral of the story (in case George Lucas is reading this) is: your special-effects budget is only tangentially related to how much your fans will like the movie.

Star Trek II is a wonderful crappy movie, but you did get the quote wrong. I don’t remember the exact quote, but Kahn said something about leaving Kirk buried at the center of that dead world before he had the famous scream. I have a friend whose last name is Kahn, and every time I see him, I yell “Kaaaaaahhhhnnn!” Still, I think I enjoy Star Treks III and IV more than II—they’re just so, so bad.

A movie rental place near my house recently had a VHS sale, since they are getting rid of all their VHS movies. I’ve watched so many crappy movies in the last week, it’s ridiculous:
Saturday: All three matrix movies, in a row.
Sunday: Nothing.
Monday: Under Seige, Mission to Mars, The Sixth Day
Tuesday: Under Seige, Red Planet
Wednesday: Under Seige, Red Planet, Total Recall
Thursday: Virtuousity, Under Seige, Sphere.
Friday: Part of Enemy Mine, part of Ghosts of Mars, Kazaam (with Shaq). No Under Seige today
Saturday: Under Seige, first half of Under Seige, Strange Days, Amazon Women on the Moon, Steel (with Shaq), part of Drunken Wu Tang.

A friend and I have this theory that Under Seige gets better every time you watch it. Thus far it’s panned out. I remember yesterday, I was sitting on his couch, and Under Seige had ended—credits still rolling. We were discussing what to watch next, and I said “We could watch Under Seige.” He responded “Yeah, that’s right—we haven’t watched Under Seige since…We’re still watching Under Seige.”

I don’t know exactly what a psychologist would say about my eight-year obsession with bad scifi, but I don’t think it would be positive.

Sunday: Under Seige, entirety of Ghosts of Mars, Adventures of Pluto Nash.

Really, I think this all traces back to my childhood, when my mother refused to let me rent I Come in Peace or Def Con 3 (or maybe 4). In my teenage years, I was able to watch these without parental guidance, and the feeling of freedom was highly satisfying. Of course I remember quite vividly watching Sightings and Red Dwarf on TV when I was very young. Solar Crisis may indeed have been the turning point…

The Wrath of Khan looks great on the big screen. I still had to avert my eyes with the critter and Chekhov’s ear scene.
Eyes of any age should not be required to watch Dolph Lundgren, and I would stand by not wanting the movie in my living room.
It would seem that my returning to a timeclock job just as Lucas hit the teen years turned the VCR to his favor.
‘Under Siege’ does get easier with more viewings. I’ve seen it three times, and by now, my gag reflex tickles but does not produce.